Are binary compounds ionic or covalent? If they are covalent? If they are covalent, I thought they don't form bonds that way, since they share electrons.

See your post above.

Binary compounds can be either ionic or covalent depending on the type of elements involved.

Ionic compounds are formed between a metal and a nonmetal. In these compounds, the metal atom loses one or more electrons to form a positively charged ion (cation), while the nonmetal atom gains one or more electrons to form a negatively charged ion (anion). The resulting ions are held together by strong electrostatic forces called ionic bonds.

Covalent compounds, on the other hand, are formed between two nonmetals. In these compounds, atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. Each atom contributes one or more electrons to a shared pool, creating a bond. Covalent bonds are characterized by the sharing of electrons between the participating atoms.

The misconception you mentioned may arise from a simplified understanding of covalent bonding. While it is true that in covalent compounds, atoms share electrons rather than exchanging them completely, the act of sharing electrons still forms a bond. The shared electrons are localized in the region between the nuclei, resulting in a stable molecular structure.

To determine whether a binary compound is ionic or covalent, it is helpful to consider the electronegativity difference between the two elements. Larger electronegativity differences typically result in ionic bonding, whereas smaller differences suggest covalent bonding. However, this is a general guideline, and there can be exceptions or compounds that exhibit intermediate characteristics. Consulting a table of electronegativities can be useful in determining the nature of a given binary compound.